When the Bubble Bursts (with Matt Scherer), 2026.06.01

What should we do when the "AI" bubble pops? Emily and Alex are joined by researcher Matt Scherer, who recently published a report called "No Bailout for Big Tech Billionaires: Policies for when the AI bubble bursts." They unpack what the boosters are saying about their finances, and how we can all push back against arguments for a government bailout.Matt Scherer is a fellow at the anti-monopoly think tank Open Markets Institute. He previously led the workers' rights project at the Center for Democracy & Technology.References: Forbes: "AI Can Change The World And Still Be A Bubble"Also referenced: Is AI Profitable Yet? CNBC: "Altman says some investors will be left 'very burnt'" CNBC: "Bezos brushes off concerns of an AI bubble: 'You shouldn’t worry about it' Fresh AI Hell: Empty Waymos create self-driving traffic jam "AA digital sponsor" Stanford researchers claim "AI agents...embrace Marxist ideologies" "Chatbots at the drive-thru" YouGov polling on automated juries Chaser: Erin Brockovich is on the case! AI Startup Says It Will Pay People $2,000 a Month to Masturbate Chaser: You used which brush!? Check out future streams on Twitch. Meanwhile, send us any AI Hell you see.Find our book The AI Con here, and MAIHT3k merch here.Subscribe to our newsletter via Buttondown.Follow us!Emily Bluesky: emilymbender.bsky.social Mastodon: dair-community.social/@EmilyMBender Alex Bluesky: alexhanna.bsky.social Mastodon: dair-community.social/@alex Twitter: @alexhanna Music by Toby Menon.Artwork by Naomi Pleasure-Park. Production by Ozzy Llinas Goodman.